Integrated multi-omics analysis reveals key genes and metabolic regulatory networks involved in the drought stress response of potato.

Introduction: Against the backdrop of global warming, drought events have become increasingly frequent and represent a major environmental stress factor limits potato yield stability and sustained yield improvement. Methods: In this study, integrated transcriptomics and widely targeted metabolomics were used to characterize the response of the potato cultivar 'Jizhangshu 12' to moderate (T1) and severe (T2) drought stress, and RT-qPCR was used to validate key genes. Results and discussion: 1,135 differentially expressed genes and 39 differentially accumulated metabolites were identified under moderate drought stress, whereas 505 differentially expressed genes and 158 differentially accumulated metabolites were identified under severe drought stress. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that phenylpropanoid-flavonoid biosynthesis, α-linolenic acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and MAPK-hormone signaling pathways were core modules involved in the drought response of potato. The COMT1 gene LOC102601955, F3'H gene LOC102596126, ABCG transporter gene LOC102602737, and WRKY transcription factor gene LOC102587289 were identified as core candidate drought-tolerance genes. The MAPK pathway may positively regulate lipid and steroid accumulation while negatively regulating flavonoid and phenolic biosynthesis. These findings elucidate distinct transcriptional-metabolic regulatory networks and provide candidate genes and metabolites for breeding drought-tolerant potato cultivars.